Refrigerator



April 20, 1937.

R. B. BRYANT REFRIGERATOR Filed on. 29, 1952' T t 4 z? 4 Qi /3 "2 1' i". 1 6% 1 44 t l 51 I -1 t i ,1 /9

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Roy 5. 5/3/00) ATTORNEYS.

April 20, 1937. R. B. BRYANT 9 REFRIGERATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 28 Z6 Z7 26 if" i g i;

27%. 2/ v INVENTOR.

Pay 5 Bryan! BY/ z LL 1 ATTORNEYS April 20, 1937. R. B. BRYANT REFRIGERATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Y Roy 5. Eryan/ 4 E ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE- REFRIGERATOR I Roy B. Bryant, Dallas, Tex. Application October 29, 1982, Serial No. 640.273

ficiaiml.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigerators.

One object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator within which the cold air is trapped and to which access may be easily had without the loss or escape of any of the cold air, thereby lowering the average temperature within the refrigerator and making for increased emciency in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator wherein the receptacles or containers may be elevated to desired positions for convenient access thereto without stooping and bending, thus making for greater accessibility to said containers as well as added convenience and ease in the use of the refrigerator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator having its sides and bottom closed and an opening at the top with a receptacle g vertically adjustable through said opening,

whereby the cold air is trapped within the refrigerator and convenient access is had to the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator having a plurality of vertically adjustable receptacles with one of said receptacles being smaller than the others and in close proximity to the refrigerant container or unit, for receiving articles of small size and large usage, thereby increasing the utility and facilitating the operation of said refrigerator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator of simple and emcient manufacture and of desirable construction and which 3 is of simple operation convenient accessibility and efficiency in use.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

40 The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

45 Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the refrigerator,

50 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing means of mounting the receptacles,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, 55 Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the control means,

Figs. 7 and 8 are detailed views of the control means.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the actuating system,

Fig. 10 is a partial elevation of a modified form of the invention embodying manually operated means for raising and lowering the receptacles.

Fig. 11 is a partial rear elevation of the same, 10

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on line l2-i2 of Fig. 10, and

Figs. 13 and 14 are detailed views of the manually operated crank and its locking means.

In the drawings the numeral Ill designates an 15 insulated box having its side walls and bottom closed and provided with openings ll, l2 and iiin its top. Containers or receptacles l4, l5 and it are mounted within the box and are adapted for vertical reciprocation respectively through 20 the openings ll, [2 and I3.

The receptacles are provided with a plurality of adjustable shelves ll having side guards ll' with one of'said receptacles, I5 having its shelving adapted for receiving a block of ice I5. 5

The shelves and guards are preferably of screen or similar open mesh construction to provide for circulation of the air within the box. The open sides of the receptacles together with their spacing from the inner walls of the box provides for 30 the continuous circulation of the air through and around the receptacles irrespective of the extent to which the shelves of said receptacles are packed.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the receptacle i4 is of narrower width or smaller size than the receptacles i5 and i8 and is particularly adapted for receiving small articles such as bottles of milk, jars of preserves, water flasks and the like which are likely to tip over and spill if unsupported. The shelves of this receptacle being of narrow width with relatively high side guards will support such articles and prevent their spilling. Also, by spacing the shelves in close relation for specifically receiving articles of small sizes the total shelf area of the box is increased and the full storage capacity of the box may be utilized. Such an arrangement makes for increased emciency and ease of operation in use.

A suitable drain port l0, Fig. 5, is provided in the bottom of the box for drainage of the ice drippings. This port may be closed by the usual trap I i' for preventing the escape of cold air from the box. It is pointed out that with a refrigerator of this typ where entrance is had only at the top thereof, the cold air is completely trapped and retained within the box, thus greatly increasing the efficiency of the same in use over that of the common types of refrigerators 5 heretofore used.

The receptacles are each suspended within the box from the upper end of an elongated piston rod l8, by means of a. bracket arm l9, which is secured to the rod and receives a transverse support bar 20 of the receptacles, Fig. 4. Slots l9 are provided in the upper rear portion of the box for receiving the arms l9 when the receptacles are lowered within the box.

Each piston rod is mounted at the rear of the box centrally of its respective receptacle and within an elongated cylinder 2| which is secured to said box, whereby the reciprocation of the piston rod within the cylinder will raise and lower the receptacle with relation to the box.

Rollers 22 are mounted within a recess 23 of the box and are adapted to the rods for guiding and positioning the same within their cylinders during their reciprocating movement. The receptacles; also, have rollers 24 mounted at their 25 lower rear sides and riding upon tracks 25 of the box for positioning and facilitating the movement of said receptacles within the box.

For closing the openings 2 and 3 in the top of the box, when the receptacles are in their lowered positions, tops 26 are pivotally mounted on the receptacles and are supported in horizontal positions, when the receptacles are in raised positions, by rests 29 which extend from the ends of the support bars 20 and forwardly of the receptacles, best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The tops are provided with suitable handles 26' by which they may be raised for access to the upper shelves of the receptacles without movi ng the same or said tops may be elevated as a part of the receptacles when access is desired to the lower shelves of the same.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and. 9, for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinders to displace the piston rods and raise the receptacles, the

lower or intake ends 30 of the cylinders are connected by distribution tubes 3| and a common header 32 with a fluid supply tank 33. A suitable fluid pressure pump 34 and a check valve 35 are connected in the header for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinders and for maintaining the pressure of the fluid in the cylinders, when the pump is inoperative. The pump has a belt drive connection 36 with an electric motor 36.

For controlling the supply of fluid to the cylinders suitable valves 31, such as the barrel type illustrated, are connected in the distribution tubes 3|. Each of these valves has an intake port 38, a discharge port 39, a drain port 40, and a rotating barrel 4| with a recessed duct 42 therein for connecting the ports upon rotation of said barrel. These intake and discharge ports are connected in the distribution tubes 3| while the drain ports are connected by means of drain tubes 43 and a common header 43' with the fluid supply tanks 33.

The cylinders are also provided with discharge ports 2| at their top portions for limiting the displacement of the piston rods. These discharge ports are connected by tubes 42 with the drainage header 43' so that when the piston rods have been displaced beyond the discharge ports the fluid will exhaust back into the supply tanks.

The valves, the tubes, and the headers are mounted at the back of the refrigerator alongside 76 the cylinders, and the valves are each. co ro ed by means of a rod 45 which has one and connecting with the valve barrel and its other end extending through the insulated wall of the box to the front side thereof for receiving an actuating lever 45.

By swinging the lever in an arc, the rod and likewise the barrel of the valve are rotated. A bearing plate 46 mounted on the box and encircling the forward end of'the rod carries a boss 46' with stop shoulders 41 and 48 at the opposite ends thereof for limiting the movement of the lever and likewise the rotation of the valve barrel. The valve barrel is adapted with relation to the ports so that when the lever is engaged with the shoulder 41, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the barrel is positioned with the duct connecting the discharge port with the drain port, for exhausting the fluid from the cylinders to lower the receptacles within the box. When the lever is swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 in engagement with the shoulder 48 the barrel is positioned with the duct connecting the intake and the discharge ports for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder to raise the receptacles. And when the lever is moved to a half way position in alignment with the stud marked S on the plate 46 the barrel is positioned to close the discharge port for trapping the fluid in the cylinder and maintaining the receptacle in a stationary position.

For completing an electric circuit to the motor 36 for operating the same and likewise the pump when it is desired to raise the receptacles, switches 49 having spring contact arms 50 and 5| are mounted on each of the valves 31 with one of the spring arms of each switch extending in the path of a finger 52 that is secured to the end of the barrel, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The flnger is adapted with relation to the switch for closing the same when the barrel is rotated in position for admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinders to raise the receptacles. The spring contact arms 50 and 5| of the switches are connected in a 0 volt electrical circuit 53 which is connected with the motor 36, so that when either of the switches is closed the electrical circuit is completed to said motor, as shown in Fig. 9.

In operation, the tops 26 being pivotally mounted may be raised for access to the top shelves of the receptacles. For obtaining access to the lower shelves of said receptacles, the levers 45 are swung in a clockwise direction, Figs. 1 and 7, against the stop shoulders 48, thereby, closing the switches 49 and starting the motor and the pump 34. This movement of the levers likewise actuates the valves 31 to admit fluid under pressure of said pump from the supply tank 33 to the cylinders 2| for displacing the piston rods l8 and raising the receptacles. -When the receptacles reach the desired elevated positions, the levers 45 are then swung in a counter-clockwise direction in alignment with the studs marked S for opening the switches to stop operation of the pump and for closing the valve discharge ports 39 to trap the fluid within the cylinders. The receptacles are thus held in their elevated positions.

If for any reason the operator should neglect to actuate the levers to stop the operation of the motor and likewise the pump, the receptacles will be raised to their uppermost positions with the piston rods opening the discharge ports 2| whereby the fluid entering the cylinders will exhaust back into the supply tank 33.

To lower the receptacles, the levers are swung inv a counter-clockwise direction in engagement with the stop shoulder 41 for actuating the valve to open the discharge port 39 with the drain port 40 for exhausting the fluid from the cylinders back into the supply tank 33.

It will be noted that when the receptacles are in raised positions access to said receptacles may be had from all sides thereof, thus enabling articles to be conveniently deposited in or removed from any location within said receptacles,

By utilizing one of the receptacles solely as a refrigerant compartment, the box may be serviced with a large supply of ice at one time and access to articles deposited within the box may be had without disturbing the refrigerant. In this way 5 the refrigerant may be retained within the box at all times after servicing; and the actuating of the other receptacles is independent of the weight of said refrigerant.

Through the use of a plurality of receptacles,

as shown in Fig. 1, with a receptacle on different sides of the refrigerating means a separate circulation of air through or around each of the receptacles is established thereby enabling odorous food or articles to be segregated and positioned in separate receptacles whereby the odors or expelled gases from the food in one receptacle will not affect the food in the other receptacle. It being pointed out that the odors or expelled gases from the food are adsorbed on contacting the refrigerant and in the use of ice pass off through the drain with the ice drippings.

As shown in Figures 10 to 14 inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention embodying manually operated means for raising and lowering the receptacles. In this form an insulated box 54, similar to box i0, is used with receptacles 55 suspended from their respective tops 56. These receptacles are similar to the receptacles I4, l5 and I6 and have rollers 51 at the lower rear side which ride upon tracks 58 within the box for guiding and facilitating the reciprocation of said receptacles within the box.

Support arms 59 having depending shanks 60 at one end are secured to the tops and extend centrally and rearwardly thereof with the shanks engaging in the upper end of pipes 8|. These pipes are mounted and adapted for vertical reciprocation with relation to the box 54. Each pipe is positioned intermediate guide rollers 62 and 63, mounted on the box, and has a pulley 64 secured to its lower end.

A cord or rope 65, is secured at one end to a staple 66 in the upper part of the box and passes under the pulley 64 and over a similar pulley 61, which is also mounted at the upper part of the box, and on the opposite side of the pipe from the staple. The other end of the rope is secured to a small drum 58 on the rear end of a transverse shaft 69 that extends through the wall of the box and is mounted in bearings 10. A crank II is pivotally mountedon the forward end of the shaft for manual rotation of the same and carries a dog 12, adapted for engagement with the ratchet teeth 13 of a plate 14 which encircles the forward end of the shaft and is secured to the box. The pivotal mounting of the crank on the shaft enables said crank to be swung in a short are parallel with the shaft and at right angles with the ratchet plate 14, for engaging or disengaging the dog 12 and the ratchet teeth 13.

It is pointed out that'with an arrangement of the pulleys and rope such as shown, a pulley and tackle effect is had for producing ample leverage necessitating only small amount of effort in the raising and lowering of the receptacles.

In this manually operated form, the use of a .receptacle of relatively narrow width, such as the container l4 hereinbefore described, will materially increase the utility ofthe refrigerator by providing a more convenient and easily operatable unit for receiving articles such as milk, butter, water flasks, and the like, which are of common usage.

It is further pointed out that the invention is not to be limited to the use of ice as a refrigerant as other suitable means such as an electric refrigerating unit, not shown, may be employed with desirable results.

It is obvious that such a refrigerator, as shown and described, wherein the cold air is completely trapped within the box and convenient access may be had to the receptacles of said box without loss of cold air and without stooping or bending of the operator, makes for added convenience and ease of operation as well as exceptional efllciency n use.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator, an insulated box having an opening in the top thereof, and a receptacle normally within the box and movable through the box opening, means for actuating said receptacle to move the same, said receptacle being detachable from the actuating means for removal of the receptacle from the box.

2. In a refrigerator, an insulated box having an opening in the top portion thereof, a food storage receptacle normally within the box and movable through the box opening, actuating means for raising and lowering the receptacle, and said receptacle actuating means being positioned at one side of the box opening and connected with the upper portion of the receptacle.

3. In a refrigerator an insulated box having an opening in the top thereof, a food storage receptacle comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, means for raising and lowering the receptacle, comprising a vertical reciprocating member mounted alongside the box and having an arm extending from the upper portion thereof and overhanging the box opening, and a receptacle being suspended from the arm within the box opening, and a cover carried by the vertical member for closing the opening when the receptacle is within the box.

4. In a refrigerator an insulated box having an opening in the top thereof, a receptacle normally within the box and adapted for movement through the opening, a vertically reciprocable shaft mounted alongside the box and having an arm extending therefrom for connection with the receptacle whereby the reciprocation of the shaft will raise and lower the receptacle, through the opening, and means for reciprocating the shaft, said receptacle being detachable from the shaft for removal from the box.

5. In a portable refrigerator, an insulated box having an opening in the top thereof, a food storage receptacle normally within the box and adapted for movement through the opening, a reciprocating element carried by the box and connected with the receptacle, a shaft carried by the box, a pulley secured on said shaft, means for rotating the shaft, and a flexible connection between the reciprocating element and the pulley, whereby the rotation of the shaft will actuate the reciprocating element to raise and lower the receptacle.

8. A refrigerator comprising a domestic re- Irigerator cabinet having insulated side walls and a top provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of receptacles suspended in said cabinet beneath said openings in spaced relation to said side walls and each other to provide free circulation around and through said receptacles. each of said receptacles being mounted for individual vertical movement through one of said openings, one oi said receptacles ham 9. reirigerant chamber adjacent the top thereof. and a hinged closure across each of said openings movable with the receptacles.

ROY B. BRYANT. 

